I went through this exact same frustration a few months ago! After reading through all these great suggestions, I want to add one more tip that helped me: if you have any old employment verification letters or reference letters from your restaurant job, sometimes the EAN appears on those documents too. I found mine on a letter the manager wrote for me when I was applying for an apartment. Also, if you're still in touch with any former coworkers, they might be going through the same process and could share the EAN if they found it. Don't beat yourself up about not having this information readily available - it's definitely not something most employees think to save when they're working. The system really is set up to handle these situations, so file your claim with confidence using just the basic business info. You've got this!

Hey there! I totally understand your frustration - I went through something similar when I filed my claim last year. One thing that might help is checking if you have any old bank statements from when you were working at the restaurant. Sometimes direct deposit transactions will show additional employer identification numbers that could help the DOL match your employment record. Also, if the restaurant ever gave you any kind of employee handbook or orientation materials when you started, those sometimes contain tax ID information too. But honestly, after reading all these responses, I think the best advice is just to go ahead and file using the restaurant's name and address - it sounds like the DOL has this process down to a science for handling missing EAN numbers. Don't let this one piece of paperwork delay getting your benefits started!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Thank you everyone for all the detailed advice - this thread is like a goldmine of solutions. I'm going to try the Account Recovery option first since that seems like it might be the fastest route, and I love that @b9ced393b56c mentioned using the same browser you originally set up the account with. That's such a specific detail that could make all the difference! If that doesn't work, I'll definitely try the technical support line at 518-457-9000 (press 3 then 2) that @1dc1fac72b82 shared. Having that direct path to the right department is huge - I've been calling the main line and getting transferred around forever. @b32aa47aa7e1 please keep us updated on what ends up working for you! I'm sure there are tons of other people lurking here with the same problem who would benefit from knowing which solution actually does the trick. Fingers crossed we both get this sorted out soon! 🤞

I just wanted to chime in with another potential solution that worked for me when I had a similar phone number issue a couple months back! If none of the other great suggestions here work out, you can also try reaching out through their Facebook page or Twitter (@nyslabor). I know it sounds weird, but their social media team actually responded to my DM within a few hours and connected me with someone who could help reset my account. They had me send a photo of my ID and answer some verification questions through the direct message, then they manually updated my phone number and sent me new login credentials. It felt a bit unconventional, but honestly it was faster than waiting on hold for hours! Sometimes these government agencies are surprisingly responsive on social media because they know it's public-facing. Worth a shot if the phone lines and online options aren't working out! 📱

I'm going through this exact same situation right now too! Just got laid off from a company based in Arizona but I work remotely from my apartment in Manhattan. When I called DOL last week, they had absolutely no wage records for my main employer - only showed a small side gig I do locally. The rep seemed totally lost and just told me to "send in some pay stubs" without any clear process or timeline. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea this was such a widespread issue! Based on everyone's experiences here, I'm going to call back tomorrow and specifically ask for a "Combined Wage Claim investigation" using the exact terminology mentioned. I'll also make sure to upload my paystubs through the online portal with the specific labeling suggestions and ask for a case number to track progress. It's really reassuring to hear that people are successfully getting through this process and receiving back pay once everything is resolved, even though it takes longer than normal claims. Thank you all for sharing your detailed experiences - you've given me (and clearly many others) a roadmap for navigating this confusing situation that the DOL website completely fails to explain!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just filed my claim this week after being laid off from a Nevada-based company where I work remotely from Albany. When I called DOL yesterday, they had absolutely no record of my wages from my main employer - only showed a small tutoring gig I do on weekends. The rep seemed completely confused about out-of-state employment and just told me to "mail in some documents" with zero specifics. This thread has been absolutely incredible - I had no idea so many people were going through the identical situation! Based on everyone's detailed experiences here, I'm calling back tomorrow to specifically request a "Combined Wage Claim investigation" using the exact terminology mentioned. I'll also upload my paystubs through the online portal with the clear labeling suggestions and make sure to ask for a case number to track progress. It's really encouraging to see that people are successfully getting their benefits resolved and receiving back pay, even though the process takes several weeks longer than normal claims. The fact that this is apparently such a widespread issue but there's virtually no information about it on the DOL website is pretty frustrating. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so thoroughly - you've given me and clearly many others a detailed roadmap for navigating this complicated process that the DOL reps seem completely unprepared to handle!

good point about keeping records. i always screenshot my weekly claim confirmations just in case

Just wanted to share my experience - I had a similar situation last year. You definitely want to file that final weekly claim and report your new job start date and expected earnings. I reported everything properly and had no issues. The system automatically closed my claim after I stopped filing. One tip: if you're starting on a Monday, that counts as working during that benefit week, so make sure to report it even though you'll only work a few days. Better to over-communicate with NYS DOL than leave them guessing why you stopped filing.

Just wanted to jump in here since I went through this exact same nightmare about 3 months ago! Your IDNYC definitely won't work - I spent hours trying different combinations of those 14 digits before I realized it's a completely different system. Here's what saved me time and sanity: **Emergency passport check:** Look for ANY old passport, even if it's expired. Mine was expired for 10 months and still worked for the unemployment system. **DMV reality check:** If you need the non-driver ID route, the Bronx Hub location on 3rd Ave sometimes has shorter wait times for walk-ins compared to the popular Queens locations everyone mentions. **Phone strategy:** That 8:01 AM call time is legit - I got through on my second try using that timing. Have your social security number ready and explain you're actively getting proper state ID but need to file urgently. **Document prep:** Bring your IDNYC to the DMV anyway - it actually speeds up their verification process even though it's not the main ID they're issuing. The whole thing is frustrating but super common. Don't stress too much - once you get proper ID the actual unemployment filing is pretty straightforward. You're not alone in this bureaucratic maze! Also bookmark that claimyr service people mentioned - totally worth the $20 if you need to talk to someone quickly once you have your documents sorted. Hang in there! 💪

I literally just went through this exact same thing 2 weeks ago! Your IDNYC won't work at all - I tried every possible way to format those 14 digits and the system just keeps rejecting it. Here's what finally worked for me: **First - check everywhere for an old passport!** Mine was buried in a box and expired 8 months ago but still worked perfectly for the unemployment system. **If no passport:** The DMV route is your only option but here are some time-savers: - Fordham Road DMV in the Bronx does walk-ins Tuesday/Thursday mornings before 10am - Bring birth certificate + social security card + 2 pieces of mail + $9 exact cash - Your IDNYC actually helps as supporting ID even though it can't be the primary one **Phone hack:** Call unemployment at exactly 8:01 AM (not 8:00 when everyone else calls). Got through on my first try! They sometimes can put a temporary hold on your claim while you get proper ID. I know it's super stressful when you need benefits urgently, but don't try to force those IDNYC digits - it'll just flag your application for fraud review and create way bigger delays. The good news is once you get proper state ID, the rest of the process is actually pretty smooth. This IDNYC issue is incredibly common - you're definitely not alone! Also that claimyr service people mentioned is legit - used it myself and worth every penny to skip the phone wait times. You got this! Just need to tackle the ID piece first and then everything else falls into place. 🙏